Page 13 of Bending Under Pressure

“Are you ready?” she asks.

“Yes!” I lock the door and walk toward her car. Once we’re on our way to the football stadium, I ask, “How long have you been dating Cameron?”

“Since freshman year. We’ve broken up a few times, but we always get back together. I think it could be a forever kind of love.” She keeps her eyes on the road, a goofy smile lifting her lips. “What about you? Did you leave a boyfriend behind? What’s going on between you and Keelan? Cam said you had dinner with them earlier this week while he was at my house.”

Keelan has returned to normal, or to the guy I know, but I think something’s been bugging him. “No boyfriend left behind and nothing between Keelan and me.”

Jess looks over at me, her raised brow showing me her skepticism. “Really?”

“I’ve known him all of two weeks! What could possibly be going on? We’re friends.”

“Do you think he’s hot?”

I think about Keelan, his killer smile, plump lips, and how nice he’s been to me. “He’s not bad looking,” I answer.

Jess laughs. “That’s the understatement of the year. I think he likes you.”

I roll my eyes. “If you say so.”

Jess parks and after paying admission, I’m surprised when she leads us to an empty spot in the stands where Keelan and Cam’s parents are sitting. Usually, the parents stayed in the bleachers, while we walked around and hung out with other kids. We sit and Jess motions to the couple on the other side of the Sanderson’s.

“Mom, Dad, this is Haley Summers. Haley, that’s my mom, Wanda, and my dad, Kenny.”

I wave at them. It doesn’t take long before the game starts. My eyes are constantly glued to Keelan and his number thirty-four jersey. He looks fantastic in a uniform. Jess bumps my shoulder during the second quarter.

“You have the hots for him,” she teases, wiggling her eyebrows.

Quietly, so his parents won’t overhear, I ask, “What makes you think he likes me?”

Jess grins. “Why do you want to know if you don’t like him back?” She laughs when I glare at her. “I know Keelan, and I date his brother. Don’t you think I would know if he does?”

Her words are on my mind for the rest of the game. The simple possibility that Keelan might like me has my heartbeat increasing in excitement. I wonder what it would be like to kiss him, to have that smile of his directed at me because I’d done something to encourage it, and I want to learn more about him.

They win the game. Something I wouldn’t have known if not for the crazy excited fans. I was too busy admiring a certain football player had been in la la land.

“C’mon,” Jess says as she stands. She says goodbye to her parents and then we, along with Octavia and John, head down to wait by the end zone. The players are on one knee in the middle of the field while the head coach gives a little speech. We’re far enough away that we can’t hear what he’s saying.

After about a minute, the boys stand and start spreading out in different directions. I spot Cam and Keelan right away. Keelan has said something that makes Cam shake his head with an amused smile. They are a few feet away when they end their conversation. Keelan’s eyes find mine and he grins.

“Hales,” he tsks after saying my name, eyeing my shirt. “My heart can only handle so much.” He lays a hand over his chest and I laugh.

“You played great,” I say, choosing not to comment on the issue of my shirt.

“Thanks.”

His parents’ congratulations distract KEelan, and I hear Jess saying goodbye to Cam. “I have to take Haley home.” She lifts on her tiptoes and whispers something in his ear, and he nods in response before kissing her forehead. “Bye, y’all,” she says to everyone else.

“Bye,” I add.

“I’ll text you later,” Keelan tells me with a smile.

My heart skips a beat, and Jess giggles as we walk away. “What did I tell you?” she asks smugly. I choose to ignore her and thank her once she drops me off.

The moment the front door closes, Mom and Walter are upon me like vultures. “Where have you been?” Mom shouts. “We’ve been worried sick and were this close to calling the cops!”

My mouth opens to mention the note, and I realize I forgot to leave one. “Sorry. I started to leave a note but got sidetracked, and my phone has been on silent.”

Mom is about to yell at me some more when Walter cuts her off. “Just text us next time to let us know.”

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